Towards a circular economy: A zero

waste programme for Europe

DG Environment

Minsk, 8 October 2014

Towards a circular economy for Europe: policy context

• Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth – Resource Efficiency Flagship and Roadmap – Mid-term review: pressure on resources and environmental

concerns identified as a key long-term trend affecting growth – Public consultation http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/public-

consultation/index_en.htm

• 7th Environment Action Programme – Thematic objective to turn the EU into a resource-efficient,

green and competitive low-carbon economy

From a linear economy …

… to a circular

economy

Circular Economy Package Specific waste

challenges Waste target

review Enabling

Framework Resource Efficiency

target

•Sustainable

buildings Communi-cation

•Sustainable food – incl. impact assessment

•Marine litter

•Legislative

proposal • Impact

assessment • Fitness check

(packaging)

• Green

Employment Initiative

• Green Action Plan for SMEs

• Progress Report on RE Roadmap

•Analysis of an

EU target for Resource Productivity

European Resource Efficiency Platform recommendations

An enabling framework • Design and innovation Horizon 2020: large scale innovation projects, skills development, market application and partnership; a coherent product policy, Eco-design; cascading use of biomass

• Unlocking investment Environmental taxation, innovative financial instruments, accounting rules, fiduciary duties; resource stress tests, potential of the bonds market, GPP and European Funds

• Harnessing the role of business and consumers Building on the Environmental Footprint pilots, broad stakeholder cooperation under Horizon 2020, action on SMEs and green employment

• Towards a recycling society – waste as a resource Waste targets review, phasing out landfilling of recyclable waste, work with Member States on implementation, extended producer responsibility, marine litter, food & construction waste

• A resource efficiency target

2030 – Waste Targets

PREVENTION

REUSE & RECYCLING (incl compost)

min 70%

INCINERATION

LANDFILL zero recyclables or biodegradable waste by 2025 (<25%)

phase out by 2030 (=<5%)

ECODESIGN

Separate Collection

Producer Responsibility

Food waste 30%

MUNICIPAL WASTE

Marine Litter 30%

Landfill Charges

• 7th EAP: "A long-term and predictable policy framework … will help to

stimulate the level of investments and action needed to fully develop

markets for greener technologies and promote sustainable business

solutions. Resource efficiency indicators and targets underpinned by

robust data collection would provide the necessary guidance ..."

• European Resource Efficiency Platform (EREP), 2014: "secure at least

a doubling of resource productivity as compared with the pre-crisis

trend … equivalent to an increase of well over 30% by 2030"

Setting a resource efficiency target

A possible EU resource efficiency target

Improving resource efficiency by 30% can create 2 million jobs and boost GDP by 1% vs. business-as-usual (+15%)

Potential gains for businesses of between 3 and 8% of turnover by using resources more efficiently

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

RP +30% (2014-2030)

RP Baseline

30% more GDP per ton

<5%

70%+

A New Commission: a new Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change

• Environment and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to reflect the twin logic of "Blue" and "Green" Growth

• "Ensuring the sustainability of our environment, the preservation of our natural resources […] are key policy objectives requiring action at all levels. […] Protecting the environment and maintaining our competitiveness can go hand-in-hand, and environment policy also plays a key role in creating jobs and stimulating investment"

• Contribute to projects coordinated by the Vice-Presidents for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness and for Energy Union

=> A focus on Green Growth and a sustainable future

Thank you for your attention! http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-

economy/index_en.htm